And recording device



(Nol Model.) 3 Sheets*Sheet 1 E. H. AMET. ELEGTRIG WEIGHING AND RECORDING DEVICE.

Patented. May 5, 1885.

N. PcTERS. Phawmhagmphur, waahmgm", n. c

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. H. AMBT.

ELECTRIC WEIGHING AND RECORDING DEVICE. No. 317,432. Patented May 5, 1885.

farbe/7%v',

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

E. II. AMET.

ELECTRIC WEICHING AND RECORDING DEVICE. No. 317,432. Patented May 5, 1885,

ssooo 7 asloo 219000 MM H F J." E w Samva"-n f IIIIIEIIBIEIIEIIEIIIEII a um; w

Nv Pumas. Prwwnuwghumr. wminnxnn. D. cv

UNITED STATES PATENT OEETCE.

EDVARD II. AMET, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO HERBERT A.

' STREETER, OF SAME ILACE.

ELECTRIC WEIGHING AND RECORDING DEVlCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 317,432, dated LMay 5, 1885.

Application iilcd May 10, 1884,

To tu whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that l, EDWARD H. AME'r, of Chicago, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Weighing and RecordingDevices, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and concise description, suiiicient to enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of my invention is to automatic- Io ally weigh, and, through the instrumentality ofelectrical devices, to automatically make records of the weight and number of objects weighed, and to automatically deposit said records in the regular order ot' their production.

My invention is here shown in combination with an ordinary ear-scale, but may be applied to any and all forms of weighing apparatus, and I. wish to be understood as not limiting 2O my invention to the use herein shown.

As here shown, the invention consists,

` broadly, of electrical devices connected with a platform. upon which are mounted the rails on which a car, loaded or unloaded, may be moved, and adapted to automatically register, record, and indicate the weight of each ear and its contents as it passes over said platform.

The invention also'consists in certain other modificati ons and features of construction hereinafter described and illustrated, and specihcally set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a portion of a track and of electrical weighing and recording devices,

(shown partly in section,) adapted to co operate in producing` the resultl set forth as the design of the invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section on line w, Fig. l, of a portion of the weighing and recording devices. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of the recording device. Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged fragments in side elevation and plan, respectively, of the weighing and numbering disks employed. Fig. (i is a portion of the record strip made thereby, and

Fig. 7 is a modied arrangement of the principal elements employed.

The same letters refer to the saine or like parts in all the figures.

A represents a portion of the main track, BV a platform arranged therein, and having rails, B, inline with the rails A, but formed in i l i (No model) sections long and short, the longer sections being arranged between the shorter sections, and the latter arranged at the ends of the platform, so that the longer sections B will support the inner wheels, O, of a truck of the car G, while the shorter section B2 will support the outer wheels, 2, of such car-trucks. By this construction any electrical conductor in a circuit, as l, may be connected to the short sections at opposite poles, and in the absence of a car on the platform the circuit thereof will be incomplete, by reason of the space b between the sections B and B3, and said circuit will be complete when the ear is on the rails, the current being carried through the trucks and the connecting frame-work thereof, and through the section B and the opposite truck; or the circuit may comprise the long section B and a short section, B2, the wheel G2 closing or completing the same. In this manner cars in the act of passing over the platform make and break the circuit l, andat the same time, by means of a simple lever of any description connected in any suitable mannerfor example, as shown by dotted lines, Fig. l-with the platform and with the connecting-rod D, the weighing apparatus, hereinafter described, is also operated, and therefore cars rapidly succeeding each other in passing over the platform may be weighed, and, as hereinafter described, the weight of each car and its contents and the number of cars weighed will be duly recorded.

In a suitable case or frame-work, E, is supported a shaft, F, on which is a pinion, f, and a type disk or wheel, G, on the periphery of which are types c, or other printing devices, arranged consecutively and adapted to give impressions of numbers varying successively by one hundred. Adjacent to the said typedisk G is another type disk or wheel, H, mounted on the rigid pivot-bearing Il of the shaft F, so as to be mounted concentrically with and for independent rotation from the said shaft F, mounted on screw-points F and H, on the periphery of which disk are arranged type or impression devices adapted to givenumbers successively, varying by one, and adjacent to the index-disk II, and rigidly attached thereto, is the ratchet-disk h, having on its periphery as many teeth as disk H has numbers.

IOO

bracket, i', secured to the frame-work or case E, while the shorter arm is connected by means of knife-edges to the connecting-rod D. A spring, l, is secured to the case or frame-work and to the longer arm of the lever I, and has a constant tendency to raise said longer arm.

Directly over the top of and extending across both the weight-disk G and the numberingdisk H is a reciprocating stamp or printinghead, J, which comprises a pair of tape-rolls, j, one arranged at or near the lower surface of the head and the other above it and in line with a slot-77, passing through the head, so thatan endless tape or web of paper may be conducted under the printing-head up along one side thereof and backwardly through the slot thereof, as clearly shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3.

At any suitable point on the frame-work or casing E is supported a reel of paper, K, which passes through a slot or slots, k, in the wall of any suitable case, as L, and from slots, L', in

said case beneath and through the printin head, as bef'ore described, and from it between feed-rolls t t to any other suitable win din g-reel or collecting mechanism, as M, arranged within the case L, said reel bein g operated by a springmotor, N, (see Fig. 1,) having an escapement or ratchet wheel, a, and a pawl, af, cooperating therewith to determine an intermittent action of the winding mechanism.

As thus far described it will be seen that in passing over the platform B each car, by its weight, acts upon the lever D and raises the same, so that the longer arm ofthe pivoted lever I is depressed against the tension of the spring I', and that the rack or sector F will operate the pinion j' and rotate to a greater or less extent the weight printing-disk G, in accordance with the weight ofthe car on the platform, and that by means of the pawl c', mounted in the pivoted arm or armature I), normally held downward by a spring, P', the numbering-disk II and the ratchet-disk h are rotated independently of the weight-disk G by raising the pawl against the tension of the spring P and allowing the spring, after said pawl has been raised asin gle notch in the ratchet, to be drawn downwardly once during the movement of each successive car over the platform.

So far as the functions of the lever I, sector F and disks G H are concerned, I consider them mechanical weighing and indicating devices, in that the lever is, in effect a scalebeam and the sector and disks a rotary poise taking the place and performing the functions of a sliding poise on the lever or beam 1,while the peripheral numbers on the disks are the perfect equivalents of the usual indicatingmarks on a scale-beam. I

rEhe mechanical devices and their functions having been described, it now remains to describe the electrical devices employed to operate, or to permit the operation of, the mechanical devices.

size-sa The printing-head J' is supported by a bracket,j2, which has a side standard,j", (see Fig. 3,) to which is pivotally secured a lever, jt, carrying the armature ji. A coil-springJG, normally sustains the printing-head and holds the armature away from the electro-magnet Q, arranged in circuit l, the adjusting-screws j" being arranged in an independent bracket, as usual. The lower one of said screws is connected in a circuit, 2, and a circuit, 3, the batteries Q and Q2 of which are connected in opposition-namely, copper to copl'ier-theirzinc elements being connected to the lever jf. The circuit 2 attracts the pawl or detent af against the tendency of the spring n2, by means of the electromagnet It, while the circuit 3, by means of the electro-magnet It', attracts the pivoted level I, carrying' the pawl c, against the spring P. Theindependent circuit 2, connected with the measuring feed-rolls tt, is connected so as to close the circuit independently ofthe lever j* and screw-pointf, thus admitting' the passage of a denite length of tape.

These being the electrical devices employed to operate the mechanical devices before described, the operation is as follows: As the front wheels ot' the car pass upon the platform the lever I and the rack F are operated and the weight-disk G begins to revolve in the direction indicated by the arrow. As soon as the wheels have passed fully onto the platform and upon the short and long' sections B and B2 the circuit is completed through the trucks of the car, and the armatureji attracts the lever j* against the tension of springj", and theprinting-head being depressed the records of the weights and the number of cars thus weighed appear upon the tape. rIhe printing or inking tape l, Fig. 3, is lirmly attached at a point, m, beyond the ink-well q, from which it absorbs ink through wick p, and is loosely attached to spring x. lVhen the printing-head J describes a downward movement, the tape-roller o presses the tape firmly down upon the faces of the numberingtype on the peripheries of disks II and G, and the letters standing in relief' imprint upon the paper tape passing over the type. In order to guard against imperfect impressions or blotting by the stamping-head, it is made sufficiently large to enable two records of adjacent type onthe disks to be made at each depression, as for instance, 38,000 and 38,100, as shown in Fig. 6. Now, by taking the average or mean between the two the actual weight of the complete car and its contents is indicated within fifty pounds.

During the operation the magnet It has attracted the pawl or detent a, raising it from the rachet a and allowing the spring-motor mechanism to wind the record-strip upon the reel M. When circuit 2 is momcntarially closed by action of magnet, Q, the magnet R and lever a are attracted and the spring motor is released, but the contact being so short an insuiiicient time would be given to allow the passage of the paper tape. In order to make IOO IIO

the insulated, point is reached, when the circuit is opened and the pawl released.

rlhe spring 2 is the terminal of independent circuit 2, and when its free end is in contact with the insulated points of rollt said circuit is closed, and when in contact with the remaining portion of said roll said circuit is open, so that the roll rotates. Now, there beingtwodiametrically-oppositeinsulatedpoints, said roll will makeintermittentsemi-rotations, and feed a length of recordin strip equal to the semi-circumference of said roll. Hence said rolls are designated as measuring-feed rolls.7

ln Fig. 7 is shown a modified arrangement of the principal elements. riFhe magnet Q being connected by means of circuit l with the track, when the circuit is closed in the manner heretofore described, the armature and lever j4 are attracted, and the printingstamp J is depressed and the impressions made, as heretofore described. the moment when lever J is depressed contacts take place through springs 9 9 and circuits 2 and 3 are completed, the magnet It and split lcver J, which is made to encompass the disks and ratchet, and supported by bracket l2 and lever J, is drawn downward upon the inking-tape, which stretches across the faces of the disks, and the impressions are made upon the paper. The paper contained on roll K passes through rollers, t t', drawn by the spring mechanism, and thence through meastiring-rolls t t, and thence into the box L. the moment when leverj4 is depressed a contact takes place between screw G and spring 9, and circuit 2 is closed, magnet R attracts lever b'l'i, releases spring b2, and the upper wheel, t, revolves until opposite detent or pin b is reached.

Having thus described my invention and its operation, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination, with a platform and mechanical weighing devices connected therewith, of a numbering-disk electrically operated as successive bodies move across said platform, substantially as specied.

2. The combinati0n,with platform, mechanical weighing devices connected therewith, and with a weight-printing disk, of a printinghead electrically operated by means of the platform and by an object moving across the same, of a record-strip adapted to receive impressions from the weight-disk, substantially as specified.

3. rlhe combination, with a platform and me- At i with, and with a weight-indicating disk, of a number-indicating disk, a prin Uinghead, and a record-stripwinding apparatus, each of which is electrically operated by an object moving over said platform, substantially as specified.

4. The combination of an electrical generator with a railroad-track of a platform having rails in section of such relative lengths and disposition that a conductor of an electrical current is formed by said sections and the wheels and trucks of electrical devices adapted to operate weighing devices, substantially as specified.

5. rllhe combination of an electrical generator, a platform having sectional rails, aseries of levers connected to mechanical weighing devices with an electrical device arranged in a circuit of which thc'rails of saidplatform form a part, and with printing devices connected with and operated by said electrical devices,

' subtantiall y as specified.

6. The combination of an electrical generator, a platform comprising rails of the cha-racter described,and weigh t and numbering disks, means for rotating' the same in accordance with the weight on said platform, and a printing-head electrically operated by a magnet in a circuit ot which the rails on said platform form a part, substantially as described.

7. The combination of an electrical genera tor, a platform comprising rails of tite character described, a magnet in circuit therewith, as specified, the armature of which is mounted on a lever forming a portion of a separate circuit connected with a separate magnet, the armature of' which is mounted on a detent or escapeinent, a spring-motor, and a print-inghead operated lby the first magnet, and supplied with a record-tape after each impression made by the printing-head, substantially as specified.

8. rBhe combination of an electrical generator with a platform comprising rails of the character described, a magnet in a circuit formed partly by the rails on said platform, oppositelyconnected batteries connected to one of the adjusting-screws of said magnet, one of which oppositely-connected batteries is in circuit with a tape-feedcontrolling mechanism, and the other of which oppositely-connected bat-v teries is in circuit with mechanism for operating a numbering-wheel substantially as specilied.

9. In combination, the electrical generator,

, the record-tape, a rcel for winding said recordtape, a spring-motor for operating said reel, a detent and escapeinent in connection with said motor and with a magnet for attracting said detent, rolls rotated by the record-strip, and provided with insulated points, a short circuit from said points into the circuit of the detent operating magnet, and means, substantially as shown and described, for making and breaking the circuit in which said magnet is located, chanical weighing devices connected therel whereby the amount of tape wound by the IOO springmotor is regulated independently ot' the l duration of the contact et' the detent with Ythe magnet, substantiall)T as speeitied. l l0. In aweight printing and recording mechl anism,the combination ola diskhaving weightindicating characters on its periphery, a printing-head arranged opposite thereto, a magnet for depressing said printing-head to take an impression or impressions, a recordiiig-tape, and means for guiding the same between the printing-head andthe disk, a spring-motta Vl'or feeding the tape, and a magnet i'or re easing l the motor intermittingly, as speciiied.

ll. In a weighing and printing indicating` apparatus, the combination, with the weight and number indicating` devices, et' a ratchet, ay pivoted pawl operating therewith, and a magnet adapted to operate the pawl against the tendency ot a {mul-operating spring, substantialhv as speciled.

12. In aweight and number printing apparatus, the combination ot' weight and number disks and aprinting-heiul et' a ratchet, a spring supported printing-head, a inning-operated pawl, and a spring-motor operated reel, Withmagnets arranged and connected substantially as specilied to operate the pawl, the printing-head, and the motor dctent, substantiallyv as specitied.

lo. The combination, with theplatl'orm, coml prising rails B, constructed as described, thel circuit l, the magnet Q, armature j", lever y, the printing-head J, and weightdislr, tl', provided with printing-surl'aces, substantially as specified.

14. In combination with the track A, the platform B, the rails of which are formed ot' the sections B B2, and the magnet Q, connected to the platform by the circuit l ot an i armature connected with printing mechanism, substantially as shown and described.

l5. The combination ol' thc platt'orm I?,

4 eUA-da magnet and circuit l with the weight-disk l, snai't l?, pinion rack lf", lever l, spring t l, connectingrod l), suitably connected with lated points if, and connection 12,1everj, and

magnet (i, substantiall),v as shown and specitied.

lei. ln a weighing, printing, and recording mechanism, the combination ot' a scale-beam and levers with spring l, the sector lfl, pinionf, weight-disk t?, numbering-disk H, having weight and number indicating characters on their iwripheries, ratchet j', printing-head arranged opposite thereto, and a magnet tor depressing said printing-head, a recordingtape and means tor guiding the same between the printing-head and the disks, a spring'- motor l'or l'eeding` the tape, and a magnet lor releasingl the motor intermittentlv, as specilied.

ltr. 'ihe mimbination ort' an electrical geilerator, a scale-beam, a series ol'l levers, and mechanical weighing devices, with electrical. devices in circuit, and printing devices, and tape-whirling and guiding devices connected with and operated by said electricz'il devices, and weight and number disks and means for rotatingl the same, substantiall)Y as and l'or the purpose specilied. 

